Coin operated vending device



June28, 1938. J PRENDES 2,122,265

I COIN OPERATED VENDING DEVICE Filed NOV. 5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR gzzz ATTORNEY Jaaquirza Prerzdes June 28, 1938. J, PRENDES2,122,265

COIN OPERATED VENDING DEVICE ATTORNEY June 28, 1938. J, PREN 2,122,265

COIN OPERATED VENDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 II" F If m 26 w *2 :i h H w 46 42 1 2 mllllll .30 7 20] M 43 E lg cfodqul lzd'Prendes BY i, l

2 ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1938 UNETED STATES PATENT oFFieE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an automaticcoin operated vending device.

The invention has for an object the construc- 5 tion of a device asmentioned which is characterized by a plurality of secondary shaftsslidably mounted and each provided with a gear associated with a rackarranged to mesh with said gear in all positions of the shafts, and amain manually operable shaft with a gear for moving said rack.

Still further the invention contemplates the provision of a transmissionshaft for each secondary shaft and a coin operated coupling forconnecting each pair of transmission and secondary shafts together whena coin is dropped into the device.

Still further the invention contemplates the as sociation of an objectdispensing means with each transmission shaft, and a container to hold aplurality of objects for each of the dispensing means.

In review, the invention contemplates the construction of a simple andefficient means for dis- 25 as individual cigarettes and candies, orsmall packages of these or other articles.

For further comprehension of the invention; and of the objects andadvantages thereof, ref- .erence will be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims inwhich the various novel features of the invention are more particularlyset forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of thisdisclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a device constructed according to thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on comprises a body portionit within which the mechanism is housed. This body portion is formed atthe front with a plurality of windows ll behind which merchandise andarticles are,

lifi displayedt Adjacent each of the window 'openiipensing objects,particularly small objects such The automatic coin operated vendingdevice ings there is a slot l2 into which a coin may be deposited. Atthe bottom of the window opening there is a discharge chute l3 fromwhich discharged articles may be removed and from which coins'may bereturned in the event that the device has discharged all of itsarticles. There is a main operating handle M at the front of the bodywhich may be turned for causing the discharge of the articles for whichcoins have been placed into the device. As will hereinafter becomeclear, the one handle I 4 controls the simultaneous discharge of all ofthe various separate dispensing units so that if coins are placed ineach, one articlefrom each will be discharged. If coins are omitted fromany of the coin receiving openings the particular unit will notdischarge. Furthermore, as this description proceeds, it will be noticedthat a plurality of coins may be placed at one time into each of theslots and the handle l4 turned'a number of times to discharge a numberof articles.

A plurality-of parallelsecondary shafts M are slidablymountedand each ofthese shafts is provided with a gear l5. A rack l6 meshes with the gearsl5 in all positions of sliding of the shafts M. A main manually operableshaft ll is provided with a gear 3 meshing with the rack I6. This mainshaft ll extends to the exterior of the body and'is provided with theoperating handle l4.

For each shaft 1 4' there is a transmission shaft l9' arrangedsubstantially in line therewith. Interposed between the adjacent ends ofeach pair of shafts I4 and I 9 there is a coin operated couplingarranged to connect the shafts together when the coupling receives acoin as hereinafter further described. An object dispensing means isassociated with each transmission shaft l9 and operates in conjunctionwith a container 2| for holding objects such as the cigarettes 22. Thelower portion of container 2| is formed with a housing 2| to keep thecigarettes, or other objects, moisture-proof.

Each shaft I4 is rotatively supported at one end in a bracket 23 whichis mounted on the inner face of the front wall of the body In. Withineach bracket 23 there is an expansion spring 24 which acts against theend of the shaft 14 for urging the shaft outwards. Each shaft I4 isslidably'supported in a bearing 25 mounted upon a partition 26 withinthe body H]. A radial pin 21 projects from each shaft l4 and holds oneend of a spring 28, the other end of which is attached on the body andserves to urge the shaft l4 into a normal position. This normal positionis one in which a stop pin 29 on each shaft acts against a stationarystop element 30 mounted on the partition 26. On the remote side of thestop 32 of each shaft Hi there is a resilient hollow cam element 3 i.

This cam element 3! comprises a flexible strip of metal having a raisedcentral portion 3V and a bent end portion 3l which engages against theside of the partition 26. The arrangement is such that when each of theshafts H! are turned so that the pins 29 move towards the cams 3 5, thepins first pass beneath the raised portions of the cams as clearly shownin Fig. 2, until they reach the end portions 3H and then these endportions flex outwards to permit the pins to pass. On the return turn ofeach shaft l4 the pin 29 will be forced up upon the outside of the cam3| and so cause the shaft 14 to move longitudinally. As each shaft turnsback to its normal position the pin 29 will ride off the cam and thespring 2 3 will urge the shaft 14 back to its initial normal position.

The rack i3 is slidably mounted in a pair of end support elements 33which are transversely slidably supported in a pair of spaced tracks 34mounted on the side walls of the body ID. The arrangement is such thatthe rack [6 may slide upon the end support element 33 at right angles tothe sliding of these elements on the tracks 34. The rack 56 is providedwith overhanging side portions te which engage against the side sectionsof the gears I5 and [8 so that the rack will be shifted and move alongwith the shafts I4, while at all times the gears mesh, control and movethe rack.

The shaft H is merely rotatively mounted (not slidable) and for thisreason the gear I8 is splined on the shaft. The shaft H is formed with afeather or key Il which engages a corresponding key slot 88* of the gearI8, so that the "gear is caused to turn with the shaft but may slidealong with the shaft. The shaft I! is also urged into a normal positionby a spring 28 The shaft H is provided with a pin 29 which acts againsta stop 30*.

Each transmission shaft 19 is rotatively mounted in a bearing 36 securedon a partition 31 mounted within the body l0. Each shaft I9 is alsorotatively supported in a second bearing 38 mounted upon the back wallof the body Ill. Each shaft is is provided with a radially projectingpin 39 connected with a spring 40 secured at its other end on a post Mmounted on the partition 3'8. Each shaft I9 is provided with anotherradial pin 42 which acts against a stop 43 projecting from the partition31. The spring 4!] normally urges the shaft l9 into a normal position inwhich the pin 22 engages the stop 43.

Each coin operated coupling 20 comprises adjacent and aligned couplingjaws 20 and 20 Each coupling jaw 20 is attached upon one of the shaftsMl. Each coupling jaw 20 is attached on one of the shafts H). Theadjacent faces of the coupling jaws 22 and 20 are formed with alignedgrooves 253 forming 'a coin receiving slot for receiving a coin such asindicated by reference numeral 415 in Fig. 2. When a coin is withinthese slots 29 the jaws are connected and will operate together. The jaw26 has an overhanging lip portion 35 which extends over a portion of thejaw 28 This lip portion is slightly less than 180 in angular measurementas may be seen from Fig. 4. It forms a shield against which a sec-0ndcoin 55 may rest upon when the coupling is being turned. This secondcoin 45' will ride over the outer face 46 of the overhanging flange.

For each coupling there is a support arm 41 which carries a pin 48pressed outwards by a spring it. The pin 48 operates in a groove 50 inthe coupling jaw 22 and limits the possible turning of this jaw. Foreach coupling 20 there is a coin chute 5!. At the top, each coin chuteconnects with one of the coin openings l2. Each .coin chute 5! has anintermediate offset portion 5| formed with a movable bottom wall portion51*.

Each wall portion 5! is supported by a rod 52 connected with a pivotallymounted bell crank 53 which connects with a link 5 connected with apivotally mounted feeling element 55. The cigarettes 22 or other objectswithin the container 2] hold the feeling element 55 in a normalposition. When the articles are exhausted from the container 2| thefeeler 55 becomes free and the Wall portion 5& moves downwards and restsupon the supporting chute it. Thus a coin 45 traveling down the chute 5!will pass along the discharge 13, in the event the merchandise isexhausted, but in the event there is merchandise within the container 2!it will pass down completely through the chute and into the grooves 28of the coin coupling.

Each container 2! is formed at the bottom with a lateral opening 58which communicates with the chute E3. Several flexible metal strips 59extend across the openings 53 and normally hold the article 22 inposition together With a slotted backing metal strip 59. An objectdispensing device is associated with each container and includes a shaft62 provided with several radially projecting fingers 6! adapted toengage against the lowermost object 22 and force it past the flexiblemetal strips 59 and down into the housing 2!. At the bottom of thehousing 2! a trap door (W is hinged at 5 i and is kept closed normallyby a suitable counterweight 6!. When the cigarette 22 or other objectfalls upon door Ell it opens and permits the said object to fall oninclined platform I3 which is a continuation of discharge chute l3.

Each shaft 68 is rotatively supported by several bearings, such as thebearings Bi Si and 61 Each shaft is provided with a one way ratchetwhich consists of a toothed ratchet wheel 63 fixed on the shaft andengaged by a resilient pawl 64 supported on a partition 65 formed in thebody 10.

Each shaft 60 is also provided with a second ratchet wheel 66 which isfirmly fixed thereon and which is engaged by a rigid finger 61 pivotallymounted intermediate of its ends by a pintle 68 upon a pair of spacedwall portions 69 and 69 of a bracket 69 which is rotative on the shaft60. A spring l0 acts between the outer end of the fingers 61 and one ofthe wall portions of the bracket 69 to normally urge the inner end ofthe fingers into operative position against the teeth of the ratchet 66.A rod H is formed with a top bent portion 12 which engages eccentricallythrough the walls 69 and 69 in a manner so that when the rod H is moveddownwards the bracket 69 will turn and the fingers 61 will move theratchet 66 and turn the shaft 60. When the bracket 69 moves back to itsoriginal position the fingers 61 will merely idle over the ratchet 66.At the bottom end each rod 1! connects with a radial arm 74. Theseradial arms are singularly fixed on shafts IS.

The operation of the device is as fol1ows:--

' One or more coins may be deposited in one or more of the coin openings12. These coins pass through the chutes 5| and if any of the merchandiseunits are bare of merchandise, will dis* charge through the chutes l3and so be returned. Otherwise, the coins-continue, the lowermost one ofeach unit depositing into the groove 29 'of the associated coupling. Theother coins merely stack one upon the other.

The handle l4 may then be turned to turn the main shaft II and by reasonof the gears l5 and l 8 turn the secondary shafts i l. Each shaft Mwhich is associated with a coupling 20 devoid of a coin will merelyidle, and the other shafts will turn and transmit, via the couplings 2|)to the shafts I9. A turn on the shaft I9 is transmitted by the radialarm 14, the rod H, to the bracket 69, and by the finger B1 to theratchet 66 and the shaft 6!). The fingers 6| of the shaft 60 will forceone of the objects from the wall 2! through trap door Bl to thedischarge chute 13.

When the handle M is released it will be returned to normal position bythe spring 28 The shafts l4 will move longitudinally to separate thejaws of the couplings 20 to drop the coin or coins. The springs 28 willreturn all of the shafts M to their normal positions. The springs 40will return all of the shafts I9 to their normal posi:

tions.

It is to be understood that this device may be used for vending anyother cylindrical or like articles of various sizes, besidescigarettesyand that the shape and design of the casing or body portionl0 may be changed as desired. l

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention'asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending device, a casing, a support element mounted in saidcasing and slidable transversely of the casing, a rack slidably mountedon the underside of said support element movable longitudinal of saidsupport element, a manually operable main shaft rotatively mounted insaid casing and at right angles to said rack, a gear ,mounted on saidmain shaft and meshing with said rack in all of the positions of saidrack to move said rack when said main shaft is turned, a plurality ofsecondary shafts slidably mounted in said casing and disposed parallelto said main shaft, gears on said secondary shafts and meshing with saidrack to turn said secondary shafts as said rack is moved longitudinallyand said gears being interengaged with the rack in a manner to move saidrack and support member transversely of the casing, a transmission shaftfor each of said secondary shafts rotatively mounted in said casing andhaving one of its ends operating a means for dispensing small articles,a coin coupling mounted on the other end of each of said transmissionshafts and on said secondary shafts and being formed with a slot intowhich a coin may be engaged to lock said coupling together, resilientelements urging said secondary shafts towards said transmission shaftsto hold said coin coupling in a position in which said coin will remaintherein, and means for moving said secondary shafts against the normalaction of said resilient elements to separate said coupling to permitsaid coin to be released.

2. In a vending device, a casing, a support element mounted in saidcasing and slidable transversely of the casing, a rack slidably mountedon the underside of said support element movable longitudinal of saidsupport element, a manually operable main shaft rotatively mounted insaid casing and at right angles to said rack, a gear mounted on saidmain shaft and meshing with said rack in all of the positions of saidrack to move said rack when said main shaft is turned, a plurality ofsecondary shafts slidably mounted in'said casing and disposed parallelto said main shaft, gears on said secondary shafts and meshing with saidrack to turn said secondary shafts as said rack-is moved longitudinallyand said gears being interengaged with the rack in a manner to move saidrack and support member transversely' of the casing, a transmissionshaft for each of said secondary shafts rotatively mounted in saidcasing and having one of its ends operating a means for dispensing smallarticles, a coin coupling mounted on the other end of each of saidtransmission shafts and on said secondary shafts and being formed with aslot into which a coin may be engaged to lock said coupling together,resilient elements urging said secondary shafts towards saidtransmission shafts to hold said coin coupling in a position in whichsaid coin will remain therein, and means for moving said secondaryshafts against the normal action of said resilient elements to separatesaid coupling to permit said coin to be released, said means comprisinga cam element fixedly mounted within the casing, and a pin extendingfrom one side of said secondary shafts and capable of riding over saidcam element when said secondary shaft is returning to its normalposition after an article has been dispensed by said device to separatesaid coupling. v

3. In a vending device, a casing, a support element mounted in saidcasing and slidable transversely of the casing, a rack slidably mountedon the underside of said support element movable longitudinal of saidsupport element, a manually operable main shaft rotatively mounted insaid casing and at right angles to said rack, a gear mounted on saidmain shaft and meshing with said rack in all of the positions of saidrack to move said rack when said main shaft is turned, a plurality ofsecondary shafts slidably mounted in said casing and disposed parallelto said main shaft, gears on said secondary shafts and meshing with saidrack to turn said secondary shafts as said rack is moved longitudinallyand said gears being interengaged with the rack in a manner to move saidrack and support member transversely of the casing, a transmission shaftfor each of said secondary shafts rotatively mounted in said casing andhaving one of its ends operating a means for dispensing small articles,a coin coupling mounted on the other end of each of said transmissionshafts and on said secondary shafts and being formed with a slot intowhich a coin may be engaged to lock said coupling together, resilientelements urging said secondary shafts towards said transmission shaftsto hold said coin coupling in a position in which said coin will remaintherein, and means for moving said secondary shafts against the normalaction of said resilient elements to separate said coupling to permitsaid coin to be released, said means comprising a cam element fixedlymounted within the casing, and a pin extending from one side of saidsecondary shafts and engaging said cam element, said cam comprising astrip of spring material attached at one end upon a support member andbeing bent intermediate of its ends forming loop portions with its otherend engaging against said support member so that said pin will passbeneath said bent portion on its forward movement and over said bentportion on its return movement to separate said coupling.

4. In a vending device, a casing, a support element mounted in saidcasing and slidable transversely of the casing, a rack slidably mountedon the underside of said support element movable longitudinal of saidsupport element, a manually operable main shaft rotatively mounted insaid casing and at right angles to said rack, a gear mounted on saidmain shaft and meshing with said rack in all of the positions of saidrack to move said rack when said main shaft is turned, a plurality ofsecondary shafts slidably mounted in said casing and disposed parallelto said main shaft, gears on said secondary shafts and meshing with saidrack to turn said secondary shafts as said rack is moved longitudinallyand said gears being interengaged with the rack in a manner to move saidrack and support member transversely of the casing, a transmission shaftfor each of said secondary shafts rotatively mounted in said casing andhaving one of its ends operating a means for dispensing small articles,a coin coupling mounted on the other end of each of said transmissionshafts and on said secondary shafts and being formed with a slot intowhich a coin may be engaged to lock said coupling together, resilientelements urging said secondary shafts towards said transmission shaftsto hold said coin coupling in a position in which said coin will remaintherein, and means for moving said secondary shafts against the normalaction of said resilient elements to separate said coupling to permitsaid coin to be released, track elements mounted in said casing at rightangles to said support memher and engaging the ends thereof so that saidsupport member may move with said rack and shafts when saidlatter-mentioned means urges said shafts against the holding action ofsaid resilient elements.

5. In a vending device, a casing, a support element mounted in saidcasing and slidable transversely of the casing, a rack slidably mountedon the underside of said support element movable longitudinal of saidsupport element, a manually operable main shaft rotatively mounted insaid casing and at right angles to said rack, a gear mounted on saidmain shaft and meshing -with said rack in all of the positions of saidrack to move said rack when said main shaft is turned, a plurality ofsecondary shafts slidably mounted in said casing and disposed parallelto said main shaft, gears on said secondary shafts and meshing with saidrack to turn said secondary shafts as said rack is moved longitudinallyand said gears being interengaged with the rack in a manner to move saidrack and support member transversely of the casing, a transmission shaftfor each of said secondary shafts rotatively mounted in said casing andhaving one of its ends operating a means for dispensing small articles,a coin coupling mounted on the other end of each of said transmissionshafts and on said secondary shafts and being formed With a slot intowhich a coin may be engaged to lock said coupling together, resilientelements urging said secondary shafts towards said transmission shaftsto hold said coin coupling in a position in which said coin will remaintherein, and means for moving said secondary shafts against the normalaction of said resilient elements to separate said coupling to permitsaid coin to be released, said resilient ele-. ments comprising abracket mounted in said casing and supporting the said end of saidsecondary shafts, and springs acting between the said casing and the endof said secondary shafts to urge said secondary shafts into normalposition.

JOAQUIN'A PRENDES.

